Chu walked through the gardens of Starfleet headquarters, admiring the view and breathing in the evening air as he walked. He was heading for the most exclusive place within Starfleet HQ, a place so exclusive that it was rare for anyone below the rank of Captain to ever visit.

However, Chu was to be the guest of probably his oldest friend. He’d managed to replicate a fine white tuxedo for the occasion, but felt very uncomfortable walking through Starfleet headquarters wearing it.

Chu arrived at the restaurant and took a deep breath. It wasn’t much to look at from the outside, just a plain smooth walled building. The only indications that this was indeed the famous ‘Captain’s Table’ was the wooden plaque on the wall stating the fact and the heavy oak-panelled door. Chu realised that he’d walked past the restaurant several times during his visits to Starfleet HQ and never noticed it. Chu opened the solid oak door and stepped inside. The plain looking building had given nothing away as to how it looked inside.

Inside everything was different, but not overstated. The room was softly lit, not dark but again not bright. There was an assortment of tables, well spaced out and although this was the most exclusive of restaurants, most of them were occupied.

"Can I assist you sir." A voice said from Chu’s left as he let the door close behind him. The voice sounded as if it had a little disdain for him, as if he knew Chu’s rank and that his rank made him less of a patron than everyone else.

Chu turned to look in the direction of the voice and saw the maître’d looking at him. Chu wasn’t sure, but he felt that this man, who didn’t know him from Adam, was looking down on him.

"Yes, I am here to dine with Captain Aki Taybar." Chu replied.

"Ah, Captain Taybar." The maître’d said confidently, his tone of voice changing somehow, as if dining with a Captain made Chu’s rank more acceptable now.

Chu knew that the maître’d could not have know every Captain that passed through the doors of the restaurant, so she must have already arrived and the maître’d had remembered the name. The maître’d snapped his fingers and another waiter appeared from behind Chu.

"Please escort the Lieutenant Commander to table seventeen." The maître’d requested.

The new waiter placed an outstretched hand, pointing the way for Chu to go and slowly followed along behind.

"Just to the right." The waiter said softly, half-guiding Chu by putting his hand lightly on his back.

Chu then saw a familiar face looking back at him from the table ahead. When Aki saw Chu approaching, a smile came across her face and her eye’s seemed to light up. Chu took the vacant seat across from Aki and the waiter assisted him, pushing the chair towards the table. The waiter then produced two menu’s, passing one to Aki and then the other to Chu.

"I will leave you to peruse the menu and I will return in five minutes." The waiter announced.

There was silence for a few moments as the waiter walked away.

"How are you ?" Aki asked.

"Fine. Feeling a little like everyone’s staring at me." Chu replied.

"You look very…" Aki said, finding it hard to find the exact words. "Smart."

"Smart is wearing my dress uniform." Chu replied.

"No that’s formal." Aki stated. "This is great, it looks great on you and you look great in it."

The evening passed quickly and the two friends spent the meal talking until it was time to leave. Chu walked his friend to her temporary quarters before heading back to the Hellcat. Although he could have requested temporary quarters, the crew of the Hellcat had decided to remain with the vessel.

Chu stepped back aboard the vessel, which was in almost total darkness. The only lights were from the command deck and the medical\science lab. Chu looked into the lab and saw Ensign ASHER and Ensign Oakenshield examining the re-captured probe. He then headed upto the command deck and saw Lieutenant Dukal sat at the security console, Padd in hand, accessing the crew profiles.

"Is that the new crew roster ?" Chu asked.

"Yes." Dukal replied. "It’s hard to imaging that the Leviathan has been so undermanned these last few months. This roster gives the names of over a hundred new crewmembers. With the discovery of the impostor aboard the Leviathan, I thought it wise to check out them all."

"We’ll I’m going to turn in." Chu remarked.

"Good meal ?" Dukal enquired.

"Captain Taybar is an old friend, nothing more." Chu replied, turning and heading to the living quarters.

"Night Commander." Dukal said.